Interchangeable locking tab



Sept. 22, 1925. 1,554,864

, G. MacMlLLAN y INTERCHANGEABLE LOCKING TAB z Filed Jan. 30. 192 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 z 1a 11` C` [ad 1f 776CA ATTORNEY" Sept. 22, 1925. 1,554,864

' G. MaCMILLAN INTERCI'IANGrEABl'JE LOCKING TAB Filed Jan. so, 192s '3 sheets-smet s NVENTOR ERE'GHMHL'MILLHN ATTO R N EY Patented Sept. 22, 1925.

PATENT] OFFICE.

enneon MAQMILLAN, or TTAWA, oNTAnIo, oANAnA.

, INTERCHA-NGEABLE LOCKING TAB.v

Application led January To all whom it may concern. j

Be it known that I, Gascon MACMILLAN, a citizen of Dominion of Canada, and' resident of Ottawa, in the count l ofCarleton and Province of Ontario, ominion of Canada, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Interchangeable Locking Tabs, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to improvements in interchangeable lock tabs and more particularly tabs used in -all forms of file containers, including folders, pockets, binders' and'lthe like forming an essential feature in up to date ofce equipment.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of an adjustable and inter- 5changeable reinforced indexing tab of the character stated, that can be quickly 'and'- securely attached and which, when attached, can not be displaced in the ordinary handling of the files. y

Another object of the invention residesV in Vthe provision of an efficient and economical markable indexing tab without any protruding parts or points to interfere with the filing of the member to whichit is attached.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a tab of the class stated with a double face or side index to fit over both rsides of the back or front portion of a .file

or a container to prevent the papers when filed from being intercepted between the wall of the container and the tab.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a tab of the character stated which may be used andindexed more than once byl reversing it.

The invention has for a still further object the provision of a tab of the character set forth and consists essentially of a strip of suitable material slotted .toward one. end

` and formed with a tongue at theother end designed to engage the slotted end to lock the tab in foldedposition on a file or the like.

With the foregoing and -other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of co-operating elements as hereinafter more specifically set forth, claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of the present application, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the folder so. 192s. serial No. 615,792.

lFi 4 is an enlarged sectional view substantially on the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 isa plan view of the tab in open position. Y Fig. 6 is a plan view of the tab in closed position.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the tab in closed position and showing the rear side thereof. Fig. 8 is'a 'central vertical section of the tab in use.

9 is a section on the vplane of line 9--9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the blank used for a progress tab.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the filing tab, open.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view through thev tab shown in Fig. 11.

Fig.l 15` land showing the tab in closed posi- Fig. 17 is a plan of a further modified form ofthe tab in open position.

Fig. 18 is al plan of the tab disclosed in mFig. 17 and showing the tab in closed posi- Fig. 19 is a plan of a further modified -form of tab in open position.

Fig. 20 is a plan of the tab disclosed in Fig.v 19 and showing the same in closed position.

Fig; 21 is a lan ofv a still further modified form of ta showing the same in open position.

Fig. 22 is a plan of the tab disclosed vin Fig. 21 and showing the same in closed position.-

Referring more in detail to'the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the Fig. 13. is an enlarged section, showing several views, a folder or container A, ofx

includes a strip folded to'it on the folder or file container A, the strip 10 being rounded\at one end and provided adjacent thereto with the transverse arcuate slot 11, Figs. 5, 6, designed to register with the slotsr B in the folder. the strip 10 is suitably cut and reduced to form a tongue 12 with slots 13 on each -side thereof in the face of the st-rip 10 and providing on either side of the tongue 12 the fingers 17 having rounded free ends and the purpose of which will later appear.

' By elongating the tab, as shown in Fig. 10 and indicated by the numeral 10", the same is made ap-plicable tofiles, folders, containers and the like in the form of a progressive tab as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 and 11 to 15, inclusive. is formed of a strip lof material 10* provided with an integral tongue 12, which is adapted to engage in the slot 11 formed in the other end of the tab. As clearly shownv in Figs. 1 and 13, the body o-f the tab may be bent upon itself, and for this purpose is provided with creases as at 15h, and vif desired, may be secured in such position by the clip 15b which extends through" said tongueand the opening 1-5a as shown in Fig. 13.

lIn Figs.. 1.5 and 16 another form of the tab is disclosed with a bifurcated tongue 12 which is tapered and provided atIt-,he free ends of the` sections thereof with outwardly turned and rounded locking extensions 12". s The slot 11* is also practicallyV straight with the ends thereof turned, so that the sect-ions of the tongue 12a will lock to better advantage in the folded. body 10 of the tab after being extended through the slot 11". The complete tab C is substantially the same in construction as the previous forms.

The modified form of. .tab C disclosed in Figs. 17 and 18 comprises a body 10 lhaving the tongue 112 extended from one end i and carrying on one side of its free end the locking extension 12d. 'Ihe arcuate slot 11l is formed in theother end portion of the body 10l and extended at an oblique angle, so as to permit ready-'insertion ofv the tongue 12" and secure locking of this tongue in the folded-over body ofthe tab, as shown in Fig.` 18.

The form disclosed in Figs.` 19 and 20 includes the body 10g having a tapered tongue 12e with a rounded free end, the same as the forms disclosed in Figs. 5 and Y 9 inclusive. The slot 11 also corresponds The other end of' The tab per se to the slot 11 inthe forms 5 to 9 inclusive. This form disclosedin Figs. 19 and 20 is especially designed for forms produced from light sheet-metal and is provided with an open window face 18 to expose therein an indexing card 19 inserted from the end and held in position between the walls of the tab by punched-out tongues 16 designed to prevent the card from slipping out of position. ly intended for the heavier classes of materia-l, such as pressed board and steel guides etc.

The form of tab J disclosed in Figs. 21 and 22 includes a bodyf 10h which is provided This form of tab is more especial# with a slot 11t extended transversely in the end of the body 10h and part of the central portion 12g of the tongue 12t is tapered on its opposite sides to provide the reduced portion or neck 12h adjacent the end or head 12l of the tongue 12. The free end of 'thehead 12i is rounded, so that the tongue 12t may be readily secured in locked position within the slot 11. A main or inner portion of the tongue 12 is tapered and separated at its sides from the end of the tab body 10h by slits 13f, thereby providing tapered fingers 17f whichmay grip the end of the folder or other member to which the "tab is attached, the same asin the other forms of tab. It may also be stated at this time that the .iingers 17 f correspond to the fingers 17 included -1n the forms disclosed in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive and Figs. 15 to 20 inclusive, except that they lie close to the tongue 12, while material is cut away from between the tongue and the fingers in the other forms mentioned. In the forms disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive and 10 y,to 14 inclusive, the fingers are dispensed with and the tongue is of substantially the same width throughout its length.

It is believed the complete construction and operation of the tab may now be apparenty from the foregoingI paragraphs taken in connection with the accompanying drawings without further detail description. It may be mentioned, however, that a` tab as shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, and as far as the 'principal construction is concerned, as shown therein between the inner' face of the tab iso sorted to Within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim asnew is:

1. A tabv for filing folders, containers and the like; comprising a strip of suitable .material provided with an arcuate slot adjacent to one end; said strip being formed with a lookin i tongue at the other'end designed to emrace the slotted end and to extend therein to lock the tab in folded position on a filin folder, container or the like; said tab havlng slits in the face thereof on each side of the tongue to provide fingers adapted to grip the edge of the folder, container or the like' to which the tab is applied.

2. The combination with a file element having slots therein; of a foldable tab designed to embrace the same; one end of the tab having a slot designed to register with the slots in the file element; the other end of the tab being formed with la tongue adapted to extend through the element slot and into the tab slot to lock the tab on the file element; gripping means on the tab designed to engage the edge of the file element; and locking means formed onsaid tongue. R

3. A tab of the character described comprising a strip of -material slotted at one end and formed with a tongue at the opposite end designed to engage the slotted end to lock the tab on a tilecontainer.`

4. In a device ofthe character described;

lwith the locking tongue adapted toextend through any one of the slots in the filing device and through the tab slot, whereby the tab is locked on the filing device.

5. The combination with a tab; of a member to which said tab is to be secured; said member being formed With a plurality of spaced slots; said-tab4 having a slot anda locking tongue; said locking tongue being designed to extend through any one of the slots of the member and into the slotlof the tab to lock the tab on said member.

6. A tabl of the character described comprising a strip of material slotted`at one end and formed with a tongue at the opposite end designed to engage the slotted end to lock the tab on a file container; said tongue being tapered toward its free end; and a pair of fingers extended normally in parallel relation to said tongue.

7. The combination with a tab; of a member to which said tab is tobe secured; said member being formed` with a plurality of spaced slots; said tab having a slot and a locking tongue; said locking tongue being designed to extend through one of the slots of the member and into the slot of the tab to lock the tab on said member; said'tongue being bifurcated with the free ends of the separated portions thereof turned 'out- Wardl to form locking extensions; the slot provi ed' in the tab to receive having its ends turned to assure firm locking of the tongue Within the slot; and a pair of fingers extended from said tab on opposite sides of the tongue.

In `testimony whereof, b I aiiix my signature.

GREGOR MACMILLAN.

the tongue 

